Agenda item

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2024/294

Contact: Michael Smedley, Head of Estates Assets and Investments

Michael.smedley@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Director of Property and Assets (CA18)

The information in this case is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed categories: 

3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) 

and since it is considered that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. 

The annexes containing exempt information under the above paragraph are attached. 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)    Agree to the freehold disposal of New and Old County Hall, on the terms set out in exempt Annex 4.

b)    Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, to negotiate and agree the final heads of terms which will be substantially in accordance with the details set out in exempt Annex 4.

c)    Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer, to conclude negotiations and complete all necessary legal documentation to implement the disposal.

RESOLVED: that the public be excluded for the duration of item 18 since it is likely that if they were present during that item there would be disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of  Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and specified below in relation to those items and since it is considered that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Cabinet had before it a report on the proposals for the disposal of New and Old County Hall and the establishment of the Council’s core office at a reimagined Speedwell House campus. This City Centre Accommodation strategy aimed to consolidate the council's physical presence in Oxford to have one core central office complemented by community hubs across the county.

The strategy also emphasised the importance of maintaining public access to the new and Old County Hall as far as possible, recognising it as a massive community asset in the centre of Oxford. Additionally, the strategy aimed to set out the council's ambitions around regeneration, renewal, and restoration of the city centre.

Councillor Dan Levy, Cabinet Member for Finance, presented the report.

The Director of Property and Assets then answered a number of questions about the proposals.

Councillor Levy moved and Councillor Leffman seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.

RESOLVED to :-

a)    agree to the freehold disposal of New and Old County Hall, on the terms set out in exempt Annex 4.

b)    delegate authority to the Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, to negotiate and agree the final heads of terms which will be substantially in accordance with the details set out in exempt Annex 4.

c)     delegate authority to the Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer, to conclude negotiations and complete all necessary legal documentation to implement the disposal.